Bentsen the Souvenir Hunter Is an Irregular Kind of Guy

BEIJING â€”  In Moscow, Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen violated Russian currency laws.

Now, he may be contemplating a violation of U.S. Customs regulations.

Well, sort of.

During President Clinton’s summit in Moscow last week, Bentsen visited a recently privatized chocolate factory and paid for a 100-ruble share in the company with a $20 bill--despite a recently imposed regulation blocking transactions in any currency other than the ruble.

Never mind that the share was worth about 8 cents and that the secretary was demonstrating his faith in Russian private enterprise.

In Beijing on Wednesday, he admired a screen placed behind the chairs where he sat during a meeting with Premier Li Peng.

During a picture-taking session at the start of the meeting, he said he had purchased several such screens during a previous visit to Beijing, in 1978.

“Now I understand why you have such a big trade surplus,� he said flatteringly.

Never mind the balance of trade, Li suggested. Such purchases “would not be counted in the trade surplus because you would not go through the formalities of the customs.�

Bentsen seemed to contemplate the prospect of making a purchase and slipping back into the United States without having his baggage examined--a courtesy offered to VIPs, although they are on their honor to complete a written customs declaration listing overseas purchases and to pay a tax on goods worth more than $400.

A grin crossed his face as he said, “Maybe . . .�